China has strongly condemned the US Navy destroyer USS Higgins for what it described as an illegal entry into the territorial waters of Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea, warning Washington to immediately halt such “provocative actions.”
According to China’s Ministry of National Defence (MND), the incident occurred when the US vessel sailed without Beijing’s approval and was subsequently driven away by Chinese forces. The Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) stated that the intrusion violated China’s sovereignty, undermined regional peace, and breached international law.
MND spokesperson Jiang Bin reiterated that Huangyan Dao is an “inherent part of China’s territory” and confirmed that Beijing has lodged a formal diplomatic protest with the US. He accused Washington of “seriously harming national security” and “trampling on basic principles of international relations.”
China urged the US to rein in its frontline naval forces and end operations it considers infringements on its sovereignty. Jiang stressed that the PLA remains on high alert and will “resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and regional stability.”
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